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County officials want warning lights installed at crossing where trains, cars crash

County officials want warning lights installed at crossing where trains, cars crash
ROSEDALE. DAVID: THE CRASH HAPPENED HERE. PIECES OF THE CAR LITTER THE SIDE OF THE RAILS. THIS IS A PRIVATE CROSSING THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE GATES LIGHTS OR WARNING SIGNALS LIKE YOU OFTEN SEE AT PUBLIC CROSSINGS. A BUSINESS SURVEILLANCE CAMERA CAPTURED THE DRAMATIC MOMENT THIS CAR ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE OVER A PRIVATE RAILROAD CROSSING AS A CSX TRAIN CAME THROUGH. HIS EMPLOYER SAYS HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK AROUND 7:00 AM. HE’S HAD TWO SURGERIES SO FAR BUT IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY. FROM THE LOOKS OF THE VEHICLE, HE’S LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THE FRONT OF THE TRAIN GRIPPED THE DOOR AND GRIPPED THE DOOR DOWN AND ACTUALLY HELD IT FROM ROLLING THE CAR. >> IT WAS ANIHLATED. THE TRAIN HIT IT DEAD ON IN THE FRONT AND DRUG IT UNDER IT. YOU CAN SEE THE MOTOR IS OUT OF IT. THE WHEELS ARE ALL RIPPED OFF. SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENED BEFORE AT THIS SAME CROSSING. MAY 2013, A CSX TRAIN CRASHED INTO REFUSE TRUCK CAUSING AN EXPLOSION AND DERAILMENT. FIVE PEOPLE GOT HURT. NO ONE DIED. THERE’S FEDERAL MONEY AVAILABLE TO MAKE CROSSINGS LIKE THE ONE ON LAKE DRIVE SAFER. MARYLAND GETS $3.5 MILLION EACH YEAR BUT IT CAN’T BE USED FOR PRIVATE CROSSINGS. BALTIMORE COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE ROAD, CHANGE THE CLASSIFICATION TO PUBLIC, THEN ASK THE STATE TO INCLUDE IT ON THEIR RAIL CROSSING PRIORITY LIST TO THE FEDS. BALTIMORE COUNTY OFFICIALS BELIEVE A SIGNAL SHOULD BE PLACED HERE. >> THE FACT THAT THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS HAS TAKEN PLACE AT THAT LOCATION, IT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. SOME SORT OF SIGNAL TO ALERT DRIVERS THAT A TRAIN IS COMING OUR INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED THERE ARE FIVE RAIL CROSSINGS IN LESS THAN TWO MILES ON THIS STRETCH OF TRACK. FOUR OF TEM ARE PRIVATE. EXPERTS CONSIDER THE PORTION OF RAILS THE MOST DANGEROUS IN THE NATION THERE HAVE BEEN 32 TRAIN-VEHICLE CRASHES SINCE 1975, INCLUDING TWO FATALITIES. >> THE CONVERSATION WILL START, BE INITIATED WITH OUR DEPART
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County officials want warning lights installed at crossing where trains, cars crash
The driver of a car hit by a CSX train Tuesday is expected to make a full recovery. The car and train collided at the same rail crossing where a train and truck collided back in May 2013.Baltimore County officials want to begin discussions to install a warning light at the crossing. The private crossing does not require gates lights or warning signals as would be found at public crossings. A business surveillance camera captured the dramatic moment a driver attempted to cross over a private railroad crossing as a CSX train came through. The driver's employer said he was on his way to work around 7 a.m. He's had two surgeries so far but is expected to make a full recovery. From the looks of the vehicle, he's lucky to be alive.The front of the train gripped the door and gripped the door down, and actually held it from rolling the car. "Oh, it was annihilated. The train hit it dead on in the front and drug it under it," tow truck driver Tony Martinez said. "You can see the motor is out of it. The wheels are all ripped off."In 2013, a CSX train crashed into a refuse truck, causing an explosion and derailment. Five people were hurt, but no one died. There's federal money available to make crossings such as the one on Lake Drive safer. Maryland gets $3.5 million each year, but it can't be used for private crossings. Baltimore County would have to take ownership of the road, change the classification to public, then ask the state to include it on their rail crossing priority list to the feds. Baltimore County officials believe a signal should be placed at the crossing."The fact that this isn't the first time an incident like this has taken place at that location, it is something that should be considered -- some sort of signal to alert drivers that a train is coming," said T.J. Smith, spokesman for the Baltimore County executive. Current statistics could not be obtained Wednesday. However, back in 2013 Baltimore County police said there had been 31 train - vehicle crashes at the five crossings since 1975. So with Tuesday’s collision, there have been at least 32 train - vehicle collisions in a 1.8 mile stretch of track in Baltimore County. "The conversation will start, be initiated with our Department of Public Works talking with CSX," Smith said.CSX officials released a statement saying: "Safety is CSX's highest priority and we work consistently with public officials, law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce the number of crossing accidents in the communities where we operate. Determinations about the need and type of traffic control devices required to warn drivers and pedestrians of oncoming and approaching train traffic at highway-rail grade crossings are the responsibility of state agencies. Once a determination has been made, CSX will work closely with the state transportation department to design and install the requisite devices. CSX strongly urges motorists and pedestrians to approach all highway-rail grade crossings with caution and abide by all signage and warning devices."There is no timetable on those discussions on who would put the light there and who would maintain it and pay for it.

The driver of a car hit by a CSX train Tuesday is expected to make a full recovery.

The car and train collided at the same rail crossing where a train and truck collided back in May 2013.

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Baltimore County officials want to begin discussions to install a warning light at the crossing. The private crossing does not require gates lights or warning signals as would be found at public crossings.

A business surveillance camera captured the dramatic moment a driver attempted to cross over a private railroad crossing as a CSX train came through. The driver's employer said he was on his way to work around 7 a.m. He's had two surgeries so far but is expected to make a full recovery.

From the looks of the vehicle, he's lucky to be alive.

The front of the train gripped the door and gripped the door down, and actually held it from rolling the car.

"Oh, it was annihilated. The train hit it dead on in the front and drug it under it," tow truck driver Tony Martinez said. "You can see the motor is out of it. The wheels are all ripped off."

In 2013, a CSX train crashed into a refuse truck, causing an explosion and derailment. Five people were hurt, but no one died.

There's federal money available to make crossings such as the one on Lake Drive safer. Maryland gets $3.5 million each year, but it can't be used for private crossings. Baltimore County would have to take ownership of the road, change the classification to public, then ask the state to include it on their rail crossing priority list to the feds.

Baltimore County officials believe a signal should be placed at the crossing.

"The fact that this isn't the first time an incident like this has taken place at that location, it is something that should be considered -- some sort of signal to alert drivers that a train is coming," said T.J. Smith, spokesman for the Baltimore County executive.

Current statistics could not be obtained Wednesday. However, back in 2013 Baltimore County police said there had been 31 train - vehicle crashes at the five crossings since 1975. So with Tuesday’s collision, there have been at least 32 train - vehicle collisions in a 1.8 mile stretch of track in Baltimore County.

"The conversation will start, be initiated with our Department of Public Works talking with CSX," Smith said.

CSX officials released a statement saying: "Safety is CSX's highest priority and we work consistently with public officials, law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce the number of crossing accidents in the communities where we operate. Determinations about the need and type of traffic control devices required to warn drivers and pedestrians of oncoming and approaching train traffic at highway-rail grade crossings are the responsibility of state agencies. Once a determination has been made, CSX will work closely with the state transportation department to design and install the requisite devices. CSX strongly urges motorists and pedestrians to approach all highway-rail grade crossings with caution and abide by all signage and warning devices."

There is no timetable on those discussions on who would put the light there and who would maintain it and pay for it.